MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Falklands' new Draft Constitution begins public consultation

The Falkland Islands Select Committee on the Constitution has now reached agreement with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office on the content of the new Draft Constitution for the Falklands, and it can now be released for public consultation.

According to a Friday release from the Select Committee the Draft Constitution contains a number of important updates from the current 1985 Constitution, in improvements to the protection of fundamental human rights of the individual, including the right to self-determination and the right to freely dispose of the territories natural resources. It will enhance local democracy by making clear Councillors responsibility for domestic policies, and the obligation of the Governor to follow the advice of Executive Council, whilst retaining for the UK Government through the Governor responsibility for foreign affairs, defence, internal security, the administration of justice, audit and the management of the public service. The new draft replaces the Commonwealth qualification for application for Falklands' status with a British qualification, and breaks the automatic link between naturalisation and Falklands status, though importantly none of these provisions have retrospective effect. New provision is made for a Public Accounts Committee and for a Complaints Commissioner independent of Government to strengthen civil society. The new Draft Constitution will now go for a period of formal public consultation, and if it receives general approval will be submitted to Legislative Council in September and to the Privy Council in October, providing for an effective date for the new Constitution of 1 January 2009. Finally the Select Committee will now prepare fuller briefing notes for the public on the changes to the Constitution and their effect, and will organise a series of public briefing and consultation meetings both in Stanley and in Camp. The proposed schedule for these will be issued following next weeks meetings round.